How to Make Dropbox Sync My Documents Folder

Learn how to sync "My documents" folder with the help of "Dropbox".

In this video tutorial we will show you how to make dropbox sync "My documents" folder.
In order to make dropbox sync "My documents" folder, go to the "Start" menu and type "cmd". Right-click on the "cmd" and choose "Run as administrator".

In the following window, type "mklink /d".

Open the "Dropbox" folder and copy the folder's path.

Paste it into "cmd" window. In the same line, type "\linked". Go to "My Documents" folder and copy the folder's path.

Paste it into "cmd" window. Press "Enter" key and you will see a message - "symbolic link created".

Go to the "Dropbox" folder. Open the "linked" folder. All files from "My documents" folder are synced.

[PatrickHerberts]

Perfect. Worked for me. Just make sure if you are doing this to copy the spaces and punctuation he uses on the screen.

[qadirkhaqan]

worked. linked folder is accessible on phone through the app. If you want to link a second folder, say, Pictures, you'll need to use a different folder name (not "linked"). For example, for the second linked folder, change the text "linked" in the instructions to "linked2, " (or anything else, I suppose). 

[jasonpapai]

A better method is to create a folder in your dropbox folder called documents and then right click on your my documents choose properties > location and change the location to the documents folder in the dropbox folder this will sync anything you put in my documents.

[ZphykTESHD]

works like a charm, I can now have a local folder on two devices that sync to a common folder on dropbox!

[aniska]

It worked! Just have to watch for spaces!

[erickbrunet]

how to you change the path? or unlink the folder?

[Toranaboy]

Thanks for this vid. Much appreciated.

[melaskins]

I got it to work. However, when I go to Dropbox on the web or on my iPhone, the file that I have in the "linked" folder, are not there.

[peterkalanzi]

Can you rename the "linked" folder to anything else?

[TseMaverick]

This method works at first, but ran into problem if you need to reinstall Windows/Dropbox... if the old symlink is still on local computer, Dropbox will not sync(greyed - icon). If the symlink is not there, it copies the whole thing as a folder

[Crenshawzfinest]

8/6/13 It works but you have to type the command EXACTLY like he's typing it on the screen and NOT how he's saying it. You have to add all the space and quotation marks like in the tutorial screen.

[AlexWohlbruck]

Using this for Mediafire, not Dropbox. It syncs between folders, but it doesn't upload. Why?

[peterjones]

i got the error message nklink is not recognised as an internal or external command operable program or batch file
???
Help please

[Shadsterwolf]

I'd rather have a junction, first move/cut all your documents over to dropbox\documents.
Then, delete your Documents folder (You will get an error trying to link an existing folder)

mklink /J "C:\Users\Me\Documents"

So now, my laptop and my home's PC can easily share over info.
It's annoying sometimes for video games where my resolution settings are...

[dr.majidalkindi]

unfortunately, It doesn't work, I have windows 8.1, and I try all suggestions.